LCD Oil Temperature Odd Problem (probably simple!)

I have a MK1 Golf GTi - 1.8

The oil temperature display on the dashboard LCD only shows temperature when the engine is off (ignition on) - when the engine is running it just shows dashes.

I also have VDO gauges on the car - the oil temperature here reads fine.

Wrong connection somewhere?

Thanks for you help…………..

I don't think the car should not have a gauge and the MFA reading the oil tempature so I guess someone has tapped in some where to get the readings.
What year is your car?

Thanks for your reply

It is a 1983 car

When I first got it the gauges both worked.  Since then I have had the front loom changed, I assume he would have connected it all the same way but you never know.

There are 2x temp senders on the oil housing and it doesn't seem to matter which is connected to which - I get the same problem.  As soon as the engine is running the LCD goes to dashes.  Perhaps somehow this is affected by oil being pumped?

RH1300S said

There are 2x temp senders on the oil housing and it doesn't seem to matter which is connected to which - I get the same problem.  As soon as the engine is running the LCD goes to dashes.  Perhaps somehow this is affected by oil being pumped?

VW fitted and oil temp and oil pressure switch to the housing, the one that is fitted to your car is it an after market one so the 2 senders are on the oil temp sender?

I'm not being very clear - sorry

There is one on the end of the housing that has the oil lines coming out of it and another next to the distributor, closer to the block
 

Didn't mean to post..

Yer tis….

It's a different set up than mine so not to sure but the green wire looks as if it's just about hanging on to the connector so that may not be helping, have you tried swoping the wires over to see what happens? On my car the the green wire goes to the sender on top of the housing but I don't have a separate guage and I have a water cooled oil cooler.

Thanks - I have tried swapping, I get the same effect

The connections are solid even if looks a bit wobbly

the dash oil temp wire is the green/black one, it should be connected to a white sensor not black. the black ones are water temp and are a different ratign to oil temp. the vdo gauge may also need a white sensor possibly but it depends on the gauge?

on the mk2 golf the mfa oil temp doesnt work at all till the oil temp reads 50 degrees, I assume the mk1 is the same?

check the dash earth to the side of the head though, it may be earthign itself thru the oil temp sender! its a brown/white wire with a ring terminal. if the engien loom has been changed look behind the fusebox for the other end of the brown/white it should end up at a female spade which is plugged into a male spade hanging off the dash loom

Hi - thanks for the info, really appreciated.